In the Eastern Counties Voluntary Gymnastics Competition held on 24th September the Waveney Gymnastics Club was represented by two girls in this qualifying event to be part of the team to take part in the national finals later in the year.

In the level 3 age group for in age gymnasts Paris Whiting scored 11.550 on vault, 9.200 on asymmetric bars, 7.600 0n beam and 10.40 on floor to give hera total of 38.750 and placed overall in fifth (5). This was a performance which means she is reserve for the team, but it could have been so much better had she not had two falls in the beam exercise. However the experience for such a young gymnast will be valuable for her competitions in the future.

In the Challenge Senior Competition for gymnasts over the age of eighteen Caitlin Dyer scored 10.700 on vault, 9.150 on asymmetric bars, 10.550 on beam and 11.450 on floor, giving her an overall total of 41.850 and third place in this age group. Both girls are coached by Alex Row, the club's head coach and assisted by Kathy Norgate. Several other young female gymnasts are beginning to come through the club and the future looks encouraging.

On Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th September the Regional Set work Competition for 2017 was held at in Ipswich, where young gymnasts from across the east region were competing for places in the different age group teams to go to the National Finals in November. Following the competition those chosen to represent the region will met regularly to polish up and improve their routines for the big competition. There are two paths leading to the finals; one for elite grades and one for club grades. It is possible to move from one path to the other as gymnasts develop during their gymnastic careers, but he routes chosen for each gymnast is based upon the judgement of the coaches, who prepare the gymnasts for these very competitive events. Each of the competitors is required to perform the specific set routine for their age group on floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars, high bar and a physical preparation routine, which includes flexibility, balance and strength moves.

In the elite grade 1 competition for boys aged 8/9 Waveney was represented by TJ Carpenter who scored a total of 61.45 to be overall fifth (5). With three scores over 9.0 on pommel horse 9.50, vault 9.75 and parallel bars 9.0 he successfully made the team.

At club grade pre-level 1 for boys aged 7/8 Noah Scott scored a total of 60.15 to finish second (2). He managed three scores over the magic 9.0 with pommel 9.15, vault 9.65 and PPP 9.0, which promises well for the future as he is too young to go to national finals this year.

At club grade level 1 for boys aged 8/9 Aston Charlton scored a total of 60.75 to be place in the silver medal position (2nd). He scored four marks above 9.0 with floor 9.20, pommel 9.40, vault 9.30 and PPP 9.60, so selected for the team in this age group.

At club grade level 2 the club was represented by Oliver Wiley and his total of 64.90 overall meant he was the winner of this age group and gold medallist. With five scores above 9.0 it was an excellent performance of consistency. Floor 9.40, pommel 9.70, rings 9.40, vault 9.80 and PPP 9.40, so comfortably making the team.

At club grade 3 Sonny Warboys scored a total of 60.55 with three scores above 9.00, which included 9.05 on floor, 9.30 on pommel and 9.55 on vault. He was placed in overall sixth (6). Two places behind was Murphy Keeler-Reynolds with a total score of 58.90, which included floor 9.05 and vault 9.35. both boys just missed out on making the team.

In club grade level 4 Harley Hawes scored a total of 63 80 to finish in fourth place (4), which included 9.40 on floor, 9.0 on pommel horse, 9.05 on rings, 9.15 on vault and 9.60 on PPP. In fifth place was Brodie Davis with a total of 63.15, including floor 9.50, pommel 9.40, rings 9.20, vault 9.50 and parallel bars 9.50. both boys made the team selection.

At club grade 5 Gregor Belousov scored a total of 63.50 to finis in fourth (4) place overall, which included four scores above 9.00 from rings 9.55, vault 9.60, parallel bars 9.00 and high bar 9.15, but also making the team.

The coaching of Ashleigh Moore and Declan Ayers has been outstanding in preparing these boys for such a busy period of competitions recently, which has been reflected in the consistent level of performances produced by so many of the gymnast from the club. At this competition the club entered nine gymnasts and six were selected for the different age groups to go to the National Finals where we hope they will return with similar results, but this will involve gymnasts from across the whole of the country, although the east is a strong region. Well done to all those gymnasts, coaches and parents who have supported their youngsters in the sport.

On the boys artistic gymnastics front, the club sent young gymnasts to the London Open event, which is one of the most prestigious competitions in the calendar for men's gymnastics and can be used as a measure against the top gymnasts from across the country, as well as a guide to selection for future national squads. These boys are coached by Ashleigh Moore, the club's senior coach for boys and Declan Ayers, one of our excellent developing coaches, who works alongside Ashleigh. This London Competition took place over the weekend of 9th and 10th September at the Redbridge Sports Centre.

In the two days of competition the gymnasts were representative of the whole of the Great Britain. The gymnasts came from as far as Scotland, Wales, Devon, Newcastle, Birmingham, Portsmouth, Uttoxeter, Wrexham, Rugby, West Lothian, Bristol, Swansea and all counties in England, so a huge event.

In the level 1Elite competition for gymnasts under 8 years of age Waveney had three entries, Rory Spurgeon, Carlton Townson and Oakley-Jai Eaton. All these boys were taking part in this competition for the first time. All three finished in the top ten places overall, which is an achievement in itself. Oakley scored a total of 44.201 to be placed 8th and this included a top ten finish on Floor 8.567 (1st) and gold medal, Rings with 8.100 (8th), Parallel Bars 8.000 (9th), Pommel Horse 5.700 (9th and Vault 9.667 (5th): Carlton scored a total of 46.402 to be overall 6th which included Floor 7.967 (4th), Rings 8.734 (6th), Pommel 7.667 (6th), Vault 9.967 (2nd) and silver medal: Rory scored a total of 51.602 to be placed overall 3rd and winner of the bronze medal, which included Rings 9.434 (2nd) silver medal, Pommel 9.100 (2nd0 silver medal, Vault 9.834 (4th), Parallel Bars 9.134 (4th) and High Bar 8.900 (5th).

In the level 1Club competition for under 8 year olds Noah Scott scored a total of 49.234 to be placed overall 9th out of forty (40) gymnasts. This included a top ten finish on three of the six pieces of apparatus, Floor 9.134 (2nd) silver medal, Rings 7.800 (5th) and High Bar 7.400 (6th).

In the level 1 Elite for boys aged 9 the club was represented by TJ Carpenter who scored a total of 47.784 to be placed overall 27th in a competition with forty five (45) gymnasts taking part.

In the level 1 Club competition for nine year old boys the club had both Aston Charlton and Logan Cope taking part. Ashton scored a total of 49.617 to be placed19th overall and Logan scored a total of 45.667 in 29th place. This competition had an entry of forty one (41) gymnasts.

In the level 2 Club competition Waveney was represented by Oliver Willey in an event involving fifty five (55) gymnasts. He scored an impressive 55.902 to finish in overall 2nd place and winner of the silver medal. Oliver also managed to be placed in the top ten places on four out of the six pieces of apparatus with Rings 9.267 (5th), Pommel Horse 9.267 (10th), Parallel Bars 9.300 (2nd) silver medal, High Bar 9.300 (2nd) silver medal.

In the level3 Club competition again the number of gymnasts was over fifty at fifty three (53). Here we were represented by Sonny Warboys and Murphy Keeler-Reynolds. Sonny scored a total of 46.384 to be placed 39th and Murphy scored 45.068 to be placed 43rd.

In the level 4 Club competition the entries were thirty nine (39) gymnast and Brodie Davis and Harley Hawes both performed well throughout the competition. Brodie scored a total of 54.235 to be placed overall 8th, which included a top ten finish on three pieces of apparatus, Floor 8.834 (8th), Pommel Horse 9.600 (2nd) silver medal, Parallel Bars 9/400 (5th); Harley scored a total of 49.369 to finish in 22nd place.

In the Whitlock under fourteen competition there was a field of thirty one (31) gymnasts and Waveney was represented by Gregor Belousov who scored a total of 68.200 to be placed overall 4th, a really good achievement. Gregor had an excellent all round competition making the top ten places on five individual pieces of apparatus. On Floor 11.600 (10th), Pommel Horse 11.250 (4th), Rings 10.600 (10th), Vault 11.800 (8th) Parallel Bars 12.650 (1st) gold medal.

At the end of this major competition the club managed to win a total of eleven medals, which is a great success and is most encouraging for the future of the sport at the club. Much of the success of the boys section has been down to the quality of coaching by the coaching team under the Head Coach Alex Row. The work of Ashleigh Moore has been outstanding in his last two years at the club, but we wish him well as he takes up a post in Australia from the end of September, where he will have the opportunity to broaden his knowledge of gymnastics and perhaps return to the club to help continue to produce the gymnasts for the future. We wish him well and thank him for his excellent contributions and development of the men's coaching staff at Waveney Gymnastics Club.

Please be aware that on the 14th December we are holding our Early Years Christmas Party. This will be held during the Wednesday morning Parent & Me, therefore if you usually attend this session please be aware that it is cancelled for this week only. You can book in advance for the Christmas party, or come along to an alternate Parent & Me session.

On Sunday 17th May six disability gymnasts from Waveney Gymnastics Club travelled to Leicester to compete in the Disability National Grades Competition. After several months of intense training and preparing for the grades, all gymnasts performed fantastic routines with all gymnasts passing and two performing so well they not only passed but scored highly enough to be awarded a merit score.

The girl’s routines were marked out of 13.50. Emily Buck gained a pass with her highest scores on Vault and Uneven Bars of 12.00. Stephanie Sullivan achieved a merit with her highest score of 12.10 on Vault followed by a very respectable 11.95 on Range and Conditioning.

The boys routines are marked out of 10.00 and Mackenzie Pledger competing in the highest grade from the club achieved a pass with his scores on vault with 8.70 and 7.40 on Pommel. Harvey Goldsmith passed his grade with an 8.20 on Pommel and 8.10 on Floor. Jack Jacobs used his Pommel score of 7.90 and Range and Condition score of 7.80 to help him achieve his pass. Rudi Chaplin competed extremely well as this was his first gymnastics competition after only recently joining the club. He was one of the gymnasts scoring highly enough to achieve a Merit with his fantastic scores on Pommel 8.90 and 7.95 on Vault.

All the gymnasts had some tough competition but stayed strong, focussed and performed some great gymnastics. Thanks goes to the coaches; Alex Row, Ellen Hutchings, Kenadee Hosty, Holly Durbidge who have worked with the gymnasts at the competition and in the run-up to the competition.